Fast-forward to the future: Couple sell up 1940s 'time capsule' house for modern abode

A couple who have turned their house into an amazing wartime home are set to auction it all off - and fast forward 70 years into the 21st century.

Ad Hickley and Pam McMillan are set to move more than 400 miles - and at the same time surge seven decades into 2011 Britain.

They have spent the last 20 years scouring car boot sales and auction houses for all things Second World War to create one of the most astonishing houses in the country.

Period living: Pam McMillan and Ad Hickley have lived in their wartime-era house for 11 years

But now Ad and Pam are poised to bid a final emotion-charged farewell to their unique 1940s lifestyle when they sell off their treasured possessions.

More than 400 lots will go under the hammer at the weekend after they decided to flog their stunning time capsule smallholding at Banham, near Attleborough, Norfolk, and head south to Land's End, Cornwall.

The fanatical history enthusiasts have loved living in their 19th century cottage surrounded by 1940s furniture, books and trinkets for the last 11 years.

Old-fashioned: The kitchen features such 1940s style appliances as a gas cooker and others which date back to wartime

But they will auction most of their staggering collection on Saturday after finding a buyer for their home.

Ad and Pam have even opened up their property to hundreds of visitors for the last six years as part of a wartime open weekend.

They will also donate some of the sale at Rushmere Cottage to military charity Veterans Aid.

Fun and games: A Ludo set and selection of card games and a 40s-era lamp are among other items the couple have added to their collection over the past two decades

A treasure trove of wartime items including a gas cooker, piano, military uniforms, rusty old bicycles, bulky farm machinery, and a vintage tractor will be sold as they look forward to their new life together in Cornwall.

Ad said it would be sad to see their possessions go to new owners but the hardest part would be leaving the house and their sprawling eight-acre grounds.

The communications consultant said: 'It is a bit of a time travel from 1945 to 2011.

'Running a smallholding with animals is quite hard work and we are looking forward to downsizing and doing a little bit less. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time doing it and have had a tremendous response from all the visitors we have had over the years.'

Hanging up: This authentic 1940s Bakelite telephone is among the many items which will be auctioned

'It is going to be quite an emotional day for us ' Thousands of visitors have attended their annual 1940s smallholding weekend, with vintage tractors, working horses and Land Girls to experience rural life during the war.

The historic property also provided the backdrop to Anglia Television's A Wartime Summer and A Wartime Winter, presented by Paul Heiney.

Ad said they learned something new about wartime rural Norfolk every open day.

One of the biggest rewards of living here was sharing it. 'A lot of children know about the 1940s from computer games, but they saw a different side to 1940s life in an ordinary small cottage,' he said.

Set of wheels: This 1939 Fordson Standard tractor is still in good condition

One of the brilliant things we have had is talking to people who lived in Banham and the surrounding villages during the war and had some fascinating conversations. Highlights of the auction include a working 1939 Fordson Standard tractor, which the couple used to plough the fields for their sustainable 1940s lifestyle, and a Land Army uniform.

Ms McMillan, who works for Norfolk Museums Service, said it was strange to see all their bits and bobs marked up with auction numbers.

She said: 'It is weird now and it is going to be weirder on Sunday when it has all gone. We had to be very rigorous and sat down together and went through every single item.

'It was difficult but we had to be tough. It is going to be really hard. We will not be able to go to a boot sale for months.'

Tourist attraction: The couple have shared their 1940s passion with others by having open days at the house

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Step inside New York's most expensive house... on sale for a staggering $90million

New York’s most expensive house has gone on sale for a whopping $90million (£56million).

The mansion in Manhattan’s opulent Upper East Side boasts ten bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, three kitchens, a wood-panelled library, an elevator, a gym and a garden.

If you think the asking price is a tad steep you could always choose to rent it for a more moderate $210,000 (£130,000) a month.

Fancy living here? The New York townhouse's asking price is a record-breaking $90million

Should someone stump up the cash, it would smash apart the previous record holder, held by The Harkness Mansion at 4 East 75 Street, which billionaire J. Christopher Flowers bought for $53million (£32million) five years ago.

The French Gothic mansion on East 80 Street was built in the early 1900s by dime store magnate Frank Winfield Woolworth for his daughter, Helena. It is nestled between two other mansions he also had built at 2 and 6 East 80 Street for his other daughters Edna and Jessie. The two other townhouses remain intact also.

They were all constructed by the architect Charles Pierpont Henry Gilbert who designed city and country homes for the wealthy.

Opulent: The house was completed in 1916 for Frank Woolworth's middle daughter, Helena

Pre-war: It has been completely renovated to a pre-war design and has 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and three kitchens

If the mansion sells for the $90million asking price it will beat previous New York record holder The Harkness Mansion sold for $53million in 2006

Situated in Manhattan's wealthy Upper East Side, the building was bought for $6millon in 1995

The house, which at 35ft wide has been completely renovated into a pre-war style, was bought in 1995 for a mere $6million (£3.7million) by the late gym magnate Lucille Roberts when it was used as a men’s gym.

Stretching over more than 18,000 square feet, the new owners will be able to comfortably a dinner party, thanks to the dining room which seats over 50.

New York townhouse super-broker Paula Del Nunziom from Brown Harris Stevens, will be attempting the massive sale and has written up a lavish description.

She starts: ‘Completed in 1916, the imposing limestone façade of this neo-French Renaissance mansion features a central foyer opening to a grand entry hall providing access to the main residence.

‘With a massive fireplace, the enormous entry includes three closets and an elegant powder room, access to a kitchen in the rear as well as the wide landing of the grand master staircase.’

But Del Nunziom need not worry. She was responsible for The Harkness Mansion sale in 2006 for $53million (£32million) and since 2007 has sold 43 townhouses worth a combined $700million (£433million).

So, why the enormous asking price?

She explains: ‘While the other great mansions that have come on the market in New York have been shells requiring total renovation, this is the only mansion to be formally available that has been fully renovated in a traditional prewar style.’

A seething mother says a tattoo parlour left her 16-year-old daughter 'branded for life' after inking '100% Welsh Lamb' across her backside.

Police are investigating after under-age Levi Brady, from Fairwater, Cardiff, had the tattoo without being asked to prove her age.

Schoolgirl Levi had the tattoo for a dare and managed to keep it a secret from her family for two weeks. But when she injured her hip falling off a horse her horrified mother Renee spotted it for the first time.

'Branded': Levi Brady got the '100% Welsh Lamb' tattoo on her backside as a dare and managed to keep it a secret from her family for two weeks. She now regrets her decision

Innapropriate: Levi was with friends when she paid £30 for the blue ink design at the Tattooland parlour in Riverside, Cardiff

Mrs Brady, 38, said: 'The tattooist has branded a child as a piece of meat for the rest of her life.

'It is the most disgusting thing to have on a young girl and the location of the tattoo is grossly inappropriate - she is only 16.' Levi was with friends when she paid £30 for the blue ink design at the Tattooland parlour in Riverside, Cardiff.

But she immediately regretted it and knew it was a 'stupid' thing to do.

Mrs Brady said: 'I couldn't believe she had done such a silly thing - but the law is there to protect young people from themselves.

'People in these establishments have a duty to act responsibly rather than betraying the trust of parents.

'We need a system where every customer is logged and a photocopy of their ID is taken.' The law states that giving a tattoo to anyone under the age of 18 is illegal under the 1969 Tattooing on Minors Act.

Levi was yesterday making inquiries about having the tattoo removed by expensive laser treatment.

She said: 'I don't like it. It's not feminine - just a bit of writing permanently on me.

'It was a moment of madness - it looks stupid.' South Wales Police confirmed they were investigating a complaint against the tattoo parlour involving an under-age customer.

A spokesman said: 'We have interviewed the complainant and inquiries are ongoing.' The punishment for tattooing a minor is £50 fine - or £100 for a repeat conviction.

Are you a guitar hero? Then try the T-shirt you can play

If you find yourself mimicking Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page or Joe Bonamassa when their songs come on your iPod, then this is the invention for you.

That's because the latest guitar to hit the market doesn't come with six strings and require an amplifier.

It is in fact a case of slipping on a special T-shirt.

Guitar God? The new invention uses barcode and webcam technology to make sounds as you strum the T-shirt - and rewards playing in time with points

Designed by FauvelKhan, which is run by two engineering graduates from Swansea University, the latest invention to take on Fender and Gibson is a garment which turns into a playable musical instrument using just a computer and a piece of software.

It works by using barcode technology on the shirt, which is picked up by a webcam as the user's hand passes over the symbol - and then makes notes.

Points are then scored if the notes are strummed in time as the user plays.

The idea was first developed by company bosses Luke Khan and Warren Fauvel to be used as a promotional object by band The Last Republic.

Now though it is up for an award in the Music Related Technologies category at the SXSW Accelerator event in Austin, Texas, which takes place this week.

It is the only European entry on the eight strong shortlist.

Mr Khan, from Cardiff, said: 'It was a surprise to be the only European-based company shortlisted.

Rocking out: A competitor in the UK Air Guitar Championship sticks to the traditional method for belting out those classic riffs

'To be selected for the final eight from 400 worldwide entries is testament to the creative and hard-working team we have.

'SXSW puts us on the world stage and it's exciting to think of what this means for the company going forward.'

The invention will be judged by a panel of experts as well as a live audience at the festival which showcases advances in social media, mobile applications and web entertainment.

Should the invention win it will become one of more than 20 awards that FauvelKhan has won since its foundation four years ago.

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So much news today is dull, depressing, controversial. It's almost impossible to watch news without hearing story after story of war, terror, killing, destruction, government, corruption, etc. I come across weird and wonderful news items as I scan the worlds press that put a smile on ones face or distract one from all the doom and gloom. These are the stories that will make up "The Quirky Globe". If you have any reactions to articles please leave a comment.... it may encourage debate. Pass this site on to your friends who are also fed up with mainstream news and become a follower. Enjoy and smile.